8 to one is shorter stroke for the guy pulling the rope but 12 to one means he doesn't have to pull as hard. If you assume the latch bolt moves an inch then the 8 to 12 inch distance to pull the rope is very reasonable.

Hi Chris. I am an avid follower of your work, although a novice in model engineering. However I do have a lifetime's experience in using various farm machinery.

Looking at your amazing 3D drawing of the bucket latch I wonder if there is a link missing at point B. On the photo of the full size bucket I had the impression of a short link which would allow the bolt to be drawn without any sideways movement which would be induced by the arc of the first lever if it pivots from a fixed point. I may well be wrong as it is not easy to see the detail clearly on the photo, in which case I hope you will forgive my intervention. I feel a bit like I'm telling God he made a mistake

Going back to the original photo (full size bucket) my impression was that Link F was actually a fixed guide bar for Lever D but there appears to be a short link, mostly concealed by Link F, which acts as a floating fulcrum for the lever connected to Latch Bolt A to prevent it binding due to sideways pressure.

Did the release rope go directly to the cab? It occurred to me that, if it went up to a pulley on the boom, the bucket could be tilted such that the bottom moved somewhat vertical which would reduce the load that the "puller dude" had to work against.

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Sherline 4400 Lathe Sherline 5400 Mill"You can do small things on big machines, but you can do small things on small machines".

Hi Chris. I am an avid follower of your work, although a novice in model engineering. However I do have a lifetime's experience in using various farm machinery.

Looking at your amazing 3D drawing of the bucket latch I wonder if there is a link missing at point B. On the photo of the full size bucket I had the impression of a short link which would allow the bolt to be drawn without any sideways movement which would be induced by the arc of the first lever if it pivots from a fixed point. I may well be wrong as it is not easy to see the detail clearly on the photo, in which case I hope you will forgive my intervention. I feel a bit like I'm telling God he made a mistake

Mike.

There was no short link at B, they just had that pin be a loose fit in the hole. Can't tell from that picture, but I checked that when I was there, that last hole was an oval to allow the slight side movement. You are right that it would bind if it was a close fit. What looks like a short bar in the photo is where the main bar narrows to the first link b.

Going back to the original photo (full size bucket) my impression was that Link F was actually a fixed guide bar for Lever D but there appears to be a short link, mostly concealed by Link F, which acts as a floating fulcrum for the lever connected to Latch Bolt A to prevent it binding due to sideways pressure.

Mike.

Hmmm... just went back to the photo sets, and I think you are right! I had not noticed that short link before, with all the lumps of the tar that they sprayed it with. I'll go update the 3D model on that! Thanks, that is a sharp eye to pick that up! I had thought it was just the mount post under bar F, but there is another layer there.